Helen Branam Hardison

1916 - 2015

HARDISON, Helen Branam Helen Branam Hardison of Braselton, Georgia, passed away peacefully at her home on November 30, 2015 with her family by her side. She was born October 31, 1916 in Macon, Georgia to James and Marion Branam. She was preceded in death by her parents; her sister Evelyn Howard; her brother James Branam Jr.; her son-in-law, Charlie Rittenhouse; and her beloved husband, John Hardison. They had been married 68 years when he passed away in 2010. Helen received her elementary and high school education in various locations throughout Georgia and Alabama as her family travelled for her dad's career. She graduated from Miller High School in Macon, Georgia. She received her professional nursing education from the Macon Hospital School of Nursing, graduating in 1939 and becoming a Registered Nurse in the state of Georgia. She completed post graduate studies at Woman's Hospital in New York, N.Y. after which she returned to Macon Hospital as a supervisor of Obstetrical Nursing. She held this position until August 1942, when she married John Hardison, a young Air Force Lieutenant. John had received a three-day leave pass before he was to be sent to Monroe, LA for further military training prior to possible deployment overseas. As many young couples at that time with World War II at its fullest, they decided to take advantage of the leave and married in their pastor's study at the Tabernacle Baptist Church in Macon on August 18, 1942. As fate would have it, John's initial assignments were on several military bases in the United States. During 1942-43, Helen traveled with him to Louisiana, California, and Florida before he was deployed to China. When Major Hardison returned to the states in 1945, they moved to Atlanta, Georgia and in 1953 their next move was to their first owned home in East Point, GA. Helen was a wonderful stay-at-home Mom for their two daughters. She was constantly "on the road" ensuring that both were driven to dance and piano lessons, church choir and youth activities, as well as numerous after-school activities. For over fifty years she served as a leadership volunteer with the East Point First Baptist Church in the infant, preschool and youth programs. In 1964 they built another home in East Point, where Helen was known for her hosting festive Christmas parties for her Sunday School class members and their spouses. She also loved to entertain John's business and civic clubs associates, as well as the many friends they made wherever she and John traveled. Family was the center of their lives. For many years over a long weekend in late summer, they held the Annual Hardison family reunion at their Lake Lanier get-a-way cabin. This gathering of multiple generations was a wonderful way to enjoy each other, the mounds of favorite family recipes, and the water with the older ones teaching the younger ones to swim and ski. The best part of those weekends were sharing stories of the past, celebrating accomplishments of the previous year, and experiencing the true meaning and importance of family togetherness. During John's business career, he and Helen visited all 50 states and after he decided to take early retirement in 1972, they embarked on many world-wide travel adventures over the next 30 years, visiting over 135 countries and all continents except Antarctica. In 1995 they built their final home in Braselton GA at Chateau Elan. This would be the third home in which Helen used her interior designing talents to provide just the right touches with the many treasures collected over their years of international travel. Helen was a member of The Chateau Elan Legions Golf Club and the Blackshear Place Baptist Church where at 99 years of age, she had the distinction of being its oldest active member. Up to about four months prior to her death, she faithfully attended Sunday morning worship services, always sitting in the fourth pew to the left of the pastor...a place she had occupied with John since becoming members 20 years ago. Helen is survived by her daughter Carol Rittenhouse, Snellville, GA; her daughter and son-in-law Cheryl and Bob Allen, Hoschton, GA; grandchildren Todd Rittenhouse, Orlando, FL; Lisa and John Angove, Berkeley Lake, GA; Krista and Lee Estes, Jefferson, GA and six great grandchildren: Nicholas, Matthew, Carys and Catherine Angove; and Madison and Rylan Estes; and several nieces and nephews. Her extended family includes devoted caregivers for the past five and a half years-- Mary Gibbs and Pat Wilson. They took Helen shopping, to her weekly hair appointments and any other place she wanted to go since she did not want to be home bound! More recently Eleanor Wilson, Sylvia DeLong, and Lily Christoferson joined as additional caregivers. The family also thanks the nurses and staff/volunteers from the Hospice of Northeast Georgia Medial Center who provided compassionate in-home care during the past few weeks. Our Nana, though a petite little lady, was our strength, our mainstay and our inspiration through the years. During her final hours, she was continuing to impart to us her words of wisdom, especially on the importance of family. Nana, we love you and will miss you so very much, but are forever grateful that you and Papa are united again in your heavenly home. A celebration of Helen Hardison's Life will be held on December 4, 2015 at 1:00 p.m. at Memorial Park Funeral Home Chapel, 2030 Memorial Park Road, Gainesville, GA 30504. Reverend Jeff Crook, Senior Pastor, Blackshear Place Baptist Church, will officiate. Visitation will be held at Memorial Park Funeral Home prior to the service from 12:00 noon to 1:00 p.m. Interment to follow the service in Memorial Park Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please consider making contributions to the Blackshear Place Baptist Church Youth Outreach Programs, 3428 Atlanta Highway, Flowery Branch, GA 30542; the Hospice of NEGA, 2150 Limestone Pkwy, Gainesville, GA 3050; or a charity of choice. Memorial Park Funeral Home, 2030 Memorial Park Road, Gainesville, GA 30504 is in charge of arrangements. Send online condolences to www.memorialparkfuneralhomes.com.